Method of producing an impervious chemical material



Patented Feb. 28, 1928.

PATENT OFFICE.)

WARREN I. BLEECKEiR, OF BOULDER, COLORADO.

METHOD OF PRODUCING AN IMPERVIOUS CHEMICAL MATERIAL.

No Drawing.

My invention relates to impervious and chemically-resistant material and the method of its production and its principal ob ect resides in providing a material suitable for use in ma ing pipe linings, conduits and machine parts, which is impervious to liquids and gases and proof against the corrosive action of acids and other chemicals and which owing to a high degree of tensile strength and elasticity, is particularly adapted as a substitute for other materials heretofore used for similar'purposes.

The material is of a composite characterand its principal and essential constituent elements are sulfur and a chemically-resistant body-forming substance, and it is a further object of the invention, to provide in the production of material of'a molten mixture of the above stated substances, certain treatments which prevent the growth of lar e sulfur crystals and promote the formation of small crystals desirably to or near the point of being amorphous, and which cause the particles and molecules of the ingred1ents to be compacted so as to form a dense and substantially non-porous body devold of voids and gas holes.

The treatments above referred to may consist in any action Which decreases the cooling eriod of the'molten mixture, after 1t has een formed in the desired shape, to a point of solidification, or inany action productive of an intermolecular movement, and it should be understood that any two ormore of the above mentioned expedients may be combined for co-operative action, if so desired.

The methods for decreasing the cooling period of the molten sulfur mixture and effecting an intermolecular movement in the same, may consist in rapidly cooling the mass by artificial means, in agitating or stirring the mass to a point of solidification, or in the proper application of pressure during the cooling period, each actionhaving for its purpose to separately or in conjunction with others, prevent the formation of large sulfur.

crystals and the occurrence of voids due to asification of the molten sulfur, as hereinfore explained. 0 An important function of the body giving Application filed April 1,

1924. Serial N0. 703,544.

chemically-resistant substance intermixed with the sulfur is to give to the material the necessary tensi e strength, increase its elast1c l mits and decrease its co-eflicient of expansion, and among the materials best suited for the purpose may be mentioned artificial graphite, sand, coke and pulverized slate, it

being evident that the physical characteristicsof the material may be varied by the use of different substances of the above type, and that their selection is for this reason, governed to a large extent by the'particular use or action for which the material or the article-produced therefrom is intended and designed.

inasmuch as artificial graphite is most suitable for thegreater number of uses for which the material is intended, the followmg descnption will be limited to its employment with the understanding that other materials of the above described character may be substituted therefor in the same or difl'erent proportions according to varying requ1rements and within the scope of the present invention.

An eflicient method of reducing the solidification period of the molten sulfur mixture consists in rapidly cooling a surface'with I which the fluid mass engages, preferabl while the mass isunder pressure, whic causes the fluid matter to be compacted and restrained under gradual and progressive solidification.

In the production of pipe linings, the above described action may be obtained by introducing the mixture in a molten condition into a pipe which is heated above the melting temperature and imparting to the pipe in a substantially horizontal position, a revolving-motion about its longitudinal axis, which forces the fluid material to the interior surface of the pipe under the influence of centrifugal force. lVhile the pipe is thus revolved, its outer surface is cooled by any to the cooling surface by the centrifugal pressure.

thus produced, reveals a total absence of large crystals and a compact arrangement of molecules without noticeable voids or crevices. In fact, the crystals are so small as to approach an amorphous condition and the formation is so dense as to be substantially nonporous.

While the above method of formingcon-' duits and pipe-linings of limited thickness is both practical and effectual, it will be ev1- dent that other means may be employed to obtain a similar result and that in the production of machine parts of different character which do not permit of the employment of centrifugal force or of rapid coolmg in the aforesaid manner, other methods must be resorted to to obtain the required movement of the molecules in the fluid mixture and oppose the tendency of forming large crystals.

An effectual method of producing the desired result in the production of articles of different forms and proportions consists in subjecting the liquid mass to an agitative or stirring action until it has cooled to a point of solidification. During this action artificial cooling means may be applied to the matrix in which the material is formed, it being understood that in this method as well as in the first described process, rapid cooling of the material from one side to another is highly advantageous.

Different methods of sub'ectin the material to pressure while it cools in the required form may be availed of where the employment of centrifugal force is not feasible or practical, and conduits or pipe-linings may if so desired, be formed by ramming or pressin the fluid matter into a space between the pipe and a therewith concentric core and cooling the exterior surface thereof as before, or by pouring the molten mixture into the pipe with a header of sufiicient size to forcibly feed the liquid mass to the inte rior surface of the pipe during the cooling action. I

The pressure to which the material is subjected, should always be sufiicient to cause the liquid portion of the material to enter into the pores of that which is already partially solidified by the cooling action upon the surface of the mold and that in the formation of pipe-linings and conduits, it is advisable that their thickness should be maintained within certain definite limits on account of the poor conductivity of the sulfur mixture.

In all of the above described actions, the exact nature of the mixture is of secondary consideration provided that it contains an adequate percentage of sulfur, it being evident that the character and proportions of the ther ingredients are subject to yariation in accordance with different require- ;-ments. A microscopic examination of a lining What I claim and desire to secure by'Lct' ters Patent is:

1. The method of forming an impervious chemically-resistant material consisting in subjecting a molten sulfur-mixture to an action causing intermolecular movement to a point of solidification.

2. The method of forming an impervious chemically-resistant material consisting in artificially cooling 9. mixture of a chemicallyresistant substance and molten sulfur.

3. The method of forming an impervious chemically-resistant material consisting in artificially cooling a mixture of a chemicallyresistantsubstance and molten sulfur, under pressure.

4/ The method of forming an impervious chemically-resistant material consisting in rapidly cooling :1 mixture of a chemicallyresistant substance and molten sulfur, under pressure.

5. The method of forming an impervious chemically-resistant material consisting in subjecting a molten sulfur-mixture upon a supporting surface to pressure, and artificially cooling said surface.

6. The method of forming an impervious chemically-resistant material consisting in agitating a molten-sulfur mixture to a point of solidification. I

7. The method of forming an impervious chemically-resistant material consisting in agitating a molten-sulfur mixture to a point of solidification while the mixture is being artificially cooled. l

8. The method of forming an impervious chemically-resistant material consisting in artificially cooling a molten-sulfur mixture at one side thereof while being subject to pressure at its opposite side.

9. The method of forming an impervious chemically-resistant material consisting in artificially cooling 2. molten-sulfur mixture at one side thereof while being subjected to centrifugal pressure at its opposite side. 7 10. The method of forming an im ervious and chemically-resistant hollow cy indrical body consisting in introducing into a revolving ipe, a molten sulfur-mixture and artificial y cooling the exterior surface of the pipe.

11. The method of producing an impervious chemically-resistant material consisting in subjecting a molten sulfur-mixture to an action accelerating the period of solidification during cooling.

12. The method of producing an impervious chemically-resistant material consisting in subjecting a molten sulfur-mixture to an action opposing the formation of large' sulfur crystals durin cooling.

13. The method 0 producing an impervious chemically-resistant material consisting in subjecting a molten sulfur-mixture to 15. The method of producing an imper pressure durin cooling. vious chemically-resistant material consist- 14. The met 0d of producing an impering in artificially cooling a molten sulfur- 10 vious chemically resistant material c onsistmixture while subjected to pressure. 6 ing in artificiall cooling a molten sulfur- In testimony whereof I have aifixed my mixture While su jected to centrifugal pressignature. 7 sure. WARREN F. BLEEOKER. 

